Etched-look label and method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a film, and process for making the same, that can be used as a label and which provides an etched appearance by the application of the combination of at least two layers of coarse-grained inks. A more specific form of the invention is to prepare a heat-shrink over-wrap film label as disclosed and then apply it to a regular glass bottle so as to create the appearance of an all-over etched treatment or a look of etched treatment to specific areas only. According to another more specific version of the invention, a heat-shrinkable overwrap sleeve may be printed as described above with a portion of the finish gradated from a full strength coating on the main body section of the container to a lesser degree in a continuous gradation over to a narrower neck part of the bottle to be covered. When the heat-shrinkable film is applied on a container with a narrow neck, the degree of frost effect remains uniform, being counter-balanced by the lesser application of the frost effect in the area where a higher degree of shrinkage takes place.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a process for providing a simulatedetched or frosted look to a surface, as well as a product made from thisprocess. More specifically, the invention relates to a coated label filmthat may be applied to a bottle to simulate the look of an etched orfrosted outer surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A now-popular packaging style for wine and other beverages inglass bottles is to treat the exterior of the bottle with a physical orchemical etching process to create a soft matte or frosted appearance.The etch treatment can be all-over, in a design, or with area(s) omittedfor screen printing.

[0003] Physical etching is accomplished by sandblasting fine particlesagainst the surface to be decorated. In chemical etching, an acid isapplied to react with the glass surface. Either method is laborious,costly, involves the use of harsh chemicals, and produces waste materialrequiring expensive disposal. Also, some assert that a glass bottle sotreated may suffer impaired strength.

[0004] The work of others who have addressed this challenge aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,099,944; 5,571,557; and 6,214,424.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a film that can be used as a labeland which is provided with an etched appearance by the application ofthe combination of at least two layers of inks. These coatings causelight to reflect at random on both layers and creates the effect of adeep frost finish which simulates the effect on the glass currentlyachieved by the chemical or physical etching process.

[0006] A more specific form of the invention is to prepare a heat-shrinkover-wrap film label as described above and then apply to a regularglass bottle so as to create the appearance of an allover etchedtreatment or a look of etched treatment to specific areas only.

[0007] According to another more specific version of the invention, aheat shrink overwrap sleeve may be printed as described above with aportion of the finish gradated from a full strength coating on the mainbody section of the container to a lesser degree in a continuousgradation over to a narrower neck part of the bottle to be covered. Whenthe heat shrink film is applied on a container with a narrow neck, thedegree of frost effect remains uniform, being counter-balanced by thelesser application of the frost effect in the area where a higher degreeof shrinkage takes place.

[0008] Other details, aspects and features of the invention with respectto both process and product will be described below.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] It is well known to apply labels made of a flexible filmsubstrate to glass and plastic bottles using either a pressure sensitiveadhesive or by providing a sleeve over-wrap which is shrunk byapplication of heat in order to closely conform the film label to theoutside shape of the container. Such labeling substrates are usuallyprinted with the desired ornamentation or indicia on an inward side ofthe label film that is applied toward the container. In this manner, theprinting will not be scuffed or marred during manufacture, shipping,handling, or prior to and after sale. Such labels are very durable andpresent an attractive, relatively glossy appearance.

[0010] The treatment of glass with a physical or chemical etchingprocess to create a soft matte etched or frosted appearance is wellknown. Recently, glass bottles for wine and other beverages have been sotreated to provide an attractive look. However, when an adhesive labelis applied to such bottles, even when the label is produced fromtransparent film material, the etched or frosted appearance is lost inthe area covered by such a label.

[0011] The present invention provides a label and process for making thesame which will simulate the etched or frosted appearance when appliedto an ordinary glass or plastic container, such as a jar or bottle.Examples of this product and method are set forth below. It should benoted that these examples are representative only and do not representall ways in which the invention can be practiced. These examples areillustrative of the Applicants' best currently-known mode for carryingout the invention. As used herein, the terms “etched” and “frosted” areused interchangeably and to the extent a difference may be perceived inthe trade, it is a difference in degree only.

[0012] As an example, a commonly-used label substrate, such as PET orPVC film, may be treated according to the present invention. One side ofthe film, which is to become the inner side directed toward the glasssurface, is provided a coating of coarse-grained translucent ink. Thiscoating is applied in a way that intentionally creates an irregularsurface on the film. This layer of ink is preferably provided withoutcolor pigment. The coarseness of the finished grain may be created byapplying the ink with a coarse grid gravure cylinder. An example of anappropriate application cylinder would be one which is chemicallyengraved or engraved using a system produced by Think LaboratoryCompany, Ltd. of Chiba, Japan, having a relatively coarse grid with acell depth of about 20-40 (20 preferred) microns and a line screen ofabout 125-200 (150 preferred). A preferred ink for this coating may besolvent based Finelap 1285 Clear, manufactured by Sun ChemicalCorporation, with an additional about 2-3% 18-361 silicon powder. Onepurpose of this inner side coating is to prevent what has been called a“wet t-shirt” look caused by trapped moisture, which may result indistorted color, clarity/opacity, and gloss. In the case of a labelbeing adhesively applied to a surface this inner side coating could beomitted.

[0013] The opposite, outer side of the film also may be treated with oneor more coatings. Preferably, but optionally, a coating of translucentcolor solvent based nitrocellulose ink is applied directly to the outerside of the film. Thereafter, a coarse coating of matte ink having arelatively large particle size colorless pigment added thereto, whichprovides some opacity but not color, is applied to the outer side of thefilm. In preferred form, this ink may be solvent based Finelap 1285Matte, made by Sun Chemical Corporation, with the addition of about 5%18-355 silicon powder. A high durability ink should be selected for thissurface coat. Again, the coarseness of the finished grain of this matteink is enhanced by application with a gravure cylinder chemicallyengraved to have a relatively coarse grid. For example, it may have apreferred cell depth of about 40 microns with a line screen of about150.

[0014] As used herein, when referring to the application of a “coarse”or “coarse-grained” coating, it is intended to mean the use ofrelatively large particle size in the ink or lacquer being applied. Inthis case, pigment solids sized nearer the larger end of the spectrum ofacceptable size are selected. The coarseness of the ink and the mannerin which it is applied contribute to its creating a coating of irregularthickness, even to the point of having a slightly textured feel in thecase of the outer surface coating. It makes no difference whether theinner or outer coating of ink is applied to the film first, except thatif a coating of translucent colored ink is applied to the outer side ofthe film, it must be applied before the coarse layer of matte ink on theouter surface.

[0015] A purpose for providing a coating of pigmented ink on the outersurface of the film prior to application of the coarse-grained colorlessmatte coating is to provide (1) the appearance that the underlyingcontainer is made of a colored material (such as green or brown glass)and/or (2) to simulate the true color of the contained product. Forexample, if the container is to appear to be that of etched clear glasscontaining red, white or blush wine, then a color of ink is selected forthis layer so as to provide a similar color when used in combinationwith the coarse coatings of colorless ink on one or both sides of thefilm label. It has been found that the natural color of the innerproduct may be distorted or become unattractive when the label of thepresent invention is used to simulate an etched or frosted look.Substantial compensation for or reversal of this undesired color changemay be accomplished by selecting an appropriate color of translucent inkto be applied as described above. Alternatively, a color may be selectedwhich simulates the color of the product as seen through colored glassor to make the glass appear opaque. While this translucent color layermight be applied on the inner side of a transparent film substrate belowthe inner side coarse-grained coating, it has been found that applyingit to the outer side of the film creates a more suitable effect.

[0016] A more particular form of the present invention is to use a heatshrinkable film substrate and to form the printed film into a tubularsleeve that can be fitted over and applied to a glass or plasticcontainer, such as a bottle. When such a label is to be applied to acontainer having a narrowed neck portion (such as a wine bottle), theapplication of the coatings on the inner and/or outer sides of the filmmay be gradated in density in proportion to the expected amount ofshrinkage in a given area of the label in order to provide a uniformdensity of the ink coatings and a uniform appearance after shrinkage. Inother words, in the areas where the over-wrap sleeve will be subject toa greater degree of shrinkage, the ink coatings should be applied with aproportionately lower density, such that the density of the coatingswill be uniform overall after shrinkage. Alternatively, if it is desiredto have a finished appearance in which the etched or frosted look fadesto a gloss or untreated look on other areas of the finished product,gradation of coating density may be adjusted accordingly.

[0017] Another variation of the present invention is to provide areas ofthe film substrate that are kept free of one or both of the coarsecoatings of ink, especially the outer coating, in order to create acut-out design etch effect. Also, the etch effect may be cut-out tocorrespond with indicia, which is preferably printed on the inner sideof a transparent film substrate, so that the indicia will show throughwith a gloss or non-etched/frosted effect and be protected fromscuffing. In ether case, the appearance imitates that of a genuineetched glass container so presented.

[0018] Many variations of the examples as described above may be madewithout departing from the spirt of the present invention. As such, thescope of patent protection should be limited only by the following claimor claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of claiminterpretation, including the doctrine of equivalence and reversal ofparts.

What we claim is:
 1. A process for producing a film covering forproviding a simulated etched or frosted appearance when applied to asurface, comprising: providing a film substrate having an inner side andan outer side, the inner side to be applied toward the surface beingtreated; applying a coarse coating of translucent ink to the inner sideof the film; and applying a coarse coating of matte ink to the outerside of the film.
 2. A process according to claim 1, further comprisingthe addition of about 2% to about 5% silicon powder to at least one ofthe coarse coatings of ink.
 3. A process according to claim 2, whereinthe ink coatings are applied to the film using a gravure cylinder.
 4. Aprocess according to claim 3, wherein the gravure cylinder is engravedto a cell depth of about 20 to about 40 microns and a line screen ofabout 125 to about
 200. 5. A process according to claim 1, furthercomprising applying a coating of translucent color-pigmented ink on theouter side of the film prior to the coarse coating of matte ink.
 6. Aprocess according to claim 5, wherein the color is selected to imitatethe appearance of the intended contents of a container to which a labelmade from the film covering is subsequently to be applied.
 7. A processaccording to claim 5, further comprising the addition of about 2 to 5%silicon powder to at least one of the coarse coatings of ink.
 8. Aprocess according to claim 7, wherein the ink coatings are applied tothe film using a gravure cylinder.
 9. A process according to claim 8,wherein the gravure cylinder is engraved to a cell depth of about 20 toabout 40 microns and a line screen of about 125 to about
 200. 10. Aprocess according to claim 1, wherein the ink coatings are applied tothe film using a gravure cylinder.
 11. A process according to claim 10,wherein the gravure cylinder is engraved to a cell depth of about 20 toabout 40 microns and a line screen of about 125 to about
 200. 12. Aprocess according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises aheat-shrinkable material and is formed into a sleeve for application tothe surface of an object by subsequent application of heat to cause thefilm to closely form to the object which is to be made to have theappearance of being etched or frosted.
 13. A process according to claim12, wherein at least one of the coatings is applied with a gradient ofdensity on at least part of the film such that the resulting density ofthe coating appears to be substantially uniform after a predeterminednon-uniform shrinkage of the film.
 14. A process according to claim 1,wherein at least one selected area of the film is excluded from at leastthe outer side coating in order to provide the appearance of a cut-outpattern of etched or frosted appearance.
 15. A process according toclaim 1, wherein at least one selected area of the film is excluded fromat least the outer side coating and indicia is printed on the inner sideof the film corresponding to the selected area such that the indiciawill appear through the film without an etched or frosted effect.
 16. Afilm covering for providing a simulated etched or frosted appearancewhen applied to a surface, comprising: a film substrate having an innerside and an outer side, the inner side to be applied toward the surfacebeing treated; a first coarse coating of translucent ink applied to theinner side of the film; and a second coarse coating of matte ink appliedto the outer side of the film.
 17. The film covering of claim 16,wherein at least one of the coarse coatings of ink includes the additionof about 2% to about 5% silicon powder.
 18. The film covering of claim17, wherein the ink coatings are applied to the film using a gravurecylinder.
 19. The film covering of claim 18, wherein the gravurecylinder is engraved to a cell depth of about 20 to about 40 microns anda line screen of about 125 to about
 200. 20. The film covering of claim16, further comprising a coating of translucent color-pigmented ink onthe outer side of the film prior to the coarse coating of matte ink. 21.The film covering of claim 20, wherein the color is selected to imitatethe appearance of the intended contents of a container to which a labelmade from the film covering is subsequently to be applied.
 22. The filmcovering of claim 20, wherein at least one of the coarse coatings of inkincludes the addition of about 2% to about 5% silicon powder.
 23. Thefilm covering of claim 22, wherein the ink coatings are applied to thefilm using a gravure cylinder.
 24. The film covering of claim 23,wherein the gravure cylinder is engraved to a cell depth of about 20 toabout 40 microns and a line screen of about 125 to about
 200. 25. Thefilm covering of claim 16, wherein the ink coatings are applied to thefilm using a gravure cylinder.
 26. The film covering of claim 25,wherein the gravure cylinder is engraved to a cell depth of about 20 toabout 40 microns and a line screen of about 125 to about
 200. 27. Thefilm covering of claim 16, wherein the film comprises a heat-shrinkablematerial and is formed into a sleeve for application to the surface ofan object by subsequent application of heat to cause the film to closelyform to the object which is to be made to have the appearance of beingetched or frosted.
 28. The film covering of claim 27, wherein at leastone of the coatings has a gradient of density on at least part of thefilm such that the resulting density of the coating appears to besubstantially uniform after a predetermined non-uniform shrinkage of thefilm.
 29. The film covering of claim 16, wherein at least one selectedarea of the film is excluded from at least the outer side coating inorder to provide the appearance of a cut-out pattern of the etched orfrosted appearance.
 30. A process according to claim 16, wherein atleast one selected area of the film is excluded from at least the outerside coating and indicia is printed on the inner side of the filmcorresponding to the selected area such that the indicia will appearthrough the film without an etched or frosted effect.
 31. A process forproviding a simulated etched or frosted appearance for a surface,comprising: providing a substantially transparent film substrate havingan inner side and an outer side, the inner side to be applied toward thesurface being treated; applying a coarse coating of translucent ink tothe inner side of the film; applying a coarse coating of matte ink tothe outer side of the film; applying the film to a surface to provide asimulated etched or frosted appearance.
 32. A process according to claim31, further comprising applying a coating of translucent color-pigmentedink on the outer side of the film prior to the coarse coating of matteink.
 33. A process according to claim 32, wherein the color is selectedto imitate the appearance of the intended contents of a container towhich a label made from the film covering is subsequently to be applied.34. A process according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the coarsecoatings of ink includes about 2% to about 5% relatively coarse siliconpowder.
 35. A process according to claim 34, wherein the ink applied tothe inner side includes about 3% relatively coarse silicon powder andthe ink applied to the outer side includes about 5% relatively coarsesilicon powder
 36. A process according to claim 34, wherein the coarsecoating of ink are applied to the film with a gravure cylinder engravedto a cell depth of about 20 to about 40 microns and a line screen ofabout 125 to about
 200. 37. A process according to claim 31, wherein thefilm comprises a heat-shrinkable material and is formed into a sleevefor application to the surface of an object by subsequent application ofheat to cause the film to closely form to the object which is to be madeto have the appearance of being etched or frosted.
 38. A processaccording to claim 37, wherein at least one of the coatings is appliedwith a gradient of density on at least part of the film such that theresulting density of the coating appears to be substantially uniformafter a predetermined non-uniform shrinkage of the film.
 39. A processaccording to claim 31, wherein at least one selected area of the film isexcluded from at least the outer side coating in order to provide theappearance of a cut-out pattern of etched or frosted appearance.
 40. Aprocess according to claim 31, wherein at least one selected area of thefilm is excluded from at least the outer side coating and indicia isprinted on the inner side of the film corresponding to the selected areasuch that the indicia will appear through the film without an etched orfrosted effect.